Whenever an outstanding young comedian comes along, talking about their identity, their dreams, their fears, someone somewhere will call them ‘the voice of a generation’. For Ania Magliano, that person is Ania Magliano; though it might not be quite the brag you’re expecting.
Absolutely No Worries If Not is a tightly-packed and deftly delivered hour, and exactly the type of debut that will propel a performer straight into the big leagues. The 2020 Funny Women Awards finalist can weave anecdotes about her first trip to a sex party (wearing trainers, while everyone else is in harnesses like they’re at Go Ape) and her Gumtree cat Otis’ complete indifference to her alongside more surreal inserts like she’s been at it for many more years than she has.
Ania is at her best during these off-beat tangents about Horse Girls (describing a fictional Louis Theroux documentary-turned-Timothée Chalamet blockbuster I’d drop everything to watch, about a phenomenon I’m genuinely quite sad doesn’t exist IRL), and her fear of serious relationships, a very, very well trodden topic for comedians — but not like this. I thought I was finally ready to find a partner etc etc, but now I think it’s safer for all of us to be alone until we die.
Peppering the show with her mum’s delightful misremembered English phrases (‘right up my valley’), it’s a confident introduction. She tells us about coming out to her mum and step-dad during Bake Off, but revels in the merits of divorce because she gets a do-over with her dad. She doesn’t know if she wants kids because of the ‘global situation…of children being fucking annoying’. There’s a surprise at every turn and it’s thrilling.
Another highlight is a game of Jaqueline Wilson mad libs, which reinforces the intensity of the children’s books we all took for granted. I read the one about the girl who mummified her cat in a shoebox more times than I can count and felt completely neutral about that as a choice.
Unsurprisingly, her Edinburgh run is now sold out but she’s already got Soho Theatre dates lined up and a tour surely can’t be far behind.
Ania is a star quickly on the rise, and for good reason. She’ll wear trainers to a sex party — now that’s true generation-defining talent.
★★★★
Ania Magliano: Absolutely No Worries If Not is at the Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker Three until 28th August. Times vary. For more information click here!
